These days, I’m feeling much better, so I’m back to sending this newsletter on time—hooray! The week wrapped up nicely for me. On the professional front, I broke the news about camera access for Android XR (more on that later), while personally, I whipped up some excellent Italian pasta here in China for my friends, thanks to some home-brought ingredients. Here’s to hoping next week is fantastic, not just for me but for all of you too!
Top News of the Week
Let’s dive into the current state of the Meta Quest ecosystem, which seems to be in a precarious position. Henry Stockdale from Upload VR recently penned an insightful article on the challenges facing the Horizon Store. After merging the main store with App Lab and updating the Meta Horizon OS and its mobile app UI to focus heavily on Horizon Worlds, developers are finding it increasingly difficult to get their games noticed. And when games don’t get discovered, income dries up. There’s been a reported decline in revenue of 50-80% compared to early 2023. Frustrated developers have been vocal for weeks. I even shared my own take on this issue a couple of months ago on my blog. Meta urgently needs to enhance the Horizon Store to improve game discoverability, rather than just pushing out endless clones of Gorilla Tag or favoring content from Horizon Worlds.
In its defense, Meta released a blog post celebrating the success of Quest 3 and Quest 3S, noting shifts in store demographics. They point out that roughly two-thirds of new headset purchases belong to newcomers—mostly youngsters with a penchant for free-to-play games. Meta’s strategy seems to cater to this growing young audience, offering them free and fun content, even if they’re knock-offs of paid versions on Horizon Worlds. So, their message to those creating premium, high-quality games is essentially, "You’re on your own." While it’s positive to see XR growing among young people, both demographics should be nurtured. The significant decline in developers’ revenue coincides with store format changes, not the influx of younger users. The real issue is the store’s deterioration post-update.
What Meta chooses to do in response remains unclear. There have been layoffs at VR studios like SideQuest and nDreams this week. Continued inaction may push developers toward other ventures like flatscreen content or competing platforms like Android XR, leaving Meta’s ecosystem barren despite years of growth. The community, meanwhile, stands behind developers, with Redditors urging others to support premium games while advising the uninstallation of Horizon Worlds to filter it out from search results.
Amidst this tumult, Mark Rabkin, VP of XR at Meta, has stepped down for family reasons. This managerial shuffle isn’t conducive to promptly solving this dilemma.
Other Relevant News
Andrew Bosworth’s memo to Meta staff was a hot topic this week. He rallied the troops for a stronger effort towards XR, declaring 2025 as the make-or-break year for Meta’s XR ambitions. Personally, I think XR is still evolving, with no seismic shifts expected this year. The Android XR headset launch, though significant, is not set to outpace Meta due to its cost. Meta has substantial XR investments planned through the 2030s, with anticipation of spending hitting $100 billion, so this year is marked more by motivation than pivotal change. Bosworth’s mention of potential failure sparked concerns about VR’s continuity at Meta, some speculating a shift toward smart glasses. But I disagree. While Ray-Ban Meta has made headway, focusing solely on them over VR, an unproven venture seems illogical. Bosworth hinted at more wearables—smartglasses, watches, and neural bands. John Carmack, upon reading the memo, approved but critiqued the omission of VR in favor of MR. Moreover, he chided the overemphasis on Horizon Worlds on mobile, questioning its broader relevance.
Apple is reportedly working on integrating PSVR 2 controllers with their Apple Vision Pro, based on intel from Marc Gurman. Intended for optional use with games, these controllers will be extrinsically sold pending a confirmed partnership with Sony. The anticipated reveal could coincide with the unveiling of VisionOS 3 at WWDC in June.
Google has confirmed that the Android XR OS will permit developers to access headset cameras, akin to smartphones, with user consent via a prompt. The front-facing camera mirrors a phone’s rear camera, while the "selfie" view is created from the avatar’s face. This development offers tremendous potential for mixed reality, with Google empowering users to control app permissions similarly to phones.
News Worth a Mention
In positive news, Quest Game Optimizer has hit the milestone of 100,000 users, impressive for an app requiring sideloading. Kudos to its creator!
John Carmack opined on the impact of Beat Saber compared to Half-Life: Alyx, asserting the standalone success of VR topped any previous efforts significantly. While his logic is sound regarding market penetration, both games played pivotal roles for different audiences.
Meta released Super Bowl ads featuring Ray-Ban Meta glasses, starring well-known actors like Chris Hemsworth. Although the ads are not groundbreaking, they aim to bolster awareness for smart glasses.
Spatial.io is venturing into gaming with their new Gorilla Tag-like game Animal Company. This pivot seems promising after several business transitions.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is set to join the Meta Quest lineup, alongside traditional platforms, bringing joy to longtime fans despite its uncertain appeal to current Quest users.
Some Content Highlights
Here’s a brief roundup of VR content updates: Synth Riders celebrates Super Bowl LIX with a Kendrick Lamar Experience; FRENZIES and Gorilla Tag have themed events; new games like Harpagun and Project Aeroes have launched; and Quest sees exciting arrivals like Boxed Out and Aim Assault demos.
Content Reviews
COLD VR offers a fresh take on SUPERHOT but could use some polish for smoother gameplay.
Other News
Steam has introduced a warning system for early access games stagnant for over a year. Meanwhile, the Stereopsia and AWE Europe merger will debut a new event, UnitedXR, hosted in Brussels. Meta is working on a "Desk Mode" for Meta AI on Quest, permitting AI interaction even during standby, though its launch remains uncertain.
From Our Partners
Support the XR developers during these challenging times by purchasing games/apps, leaving positive reviews, and spreading the word. Your support matters!
Some XR Fun
Want a laugh? Explore the amusing reasons people are using the UEVR universal mod, hilarious comments, and humorously contemplate upgrading to a new headset.
Donate for Good
Instead of donations to my blog, I urge you to support those enduring the hardships of war. Please consider contributing to the Red Cross for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Big thanks to all Patreon donors for your steadfast support.
And here’s the link to donate: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
Closing Note
Thank you for being a part of our XR community. Let’s continue to share innovation and creativity together!
(Header image by Meta)
